Campsites packed for July 4 holiday

A few campsites that are first-come-first-serve could still have spots left, but officials can't make any guarantees

By Saja Hindi

Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
07/02/2014 07:58:18 PM MDT

Tips for campers

Bears come out any time of day. Store food in car trunks, hard-sided canister if backcountry camping (required) or in food storage lockers if provided. If food is not stored properly, campers could receive a citation.

Fireworks are strictly prohibited.

Check pet requirements for parks and leash requirements.

Respect quiet hours.

Leave campsites clean.

Bring the right equipment and enough layers of clothing — it gets cold at night.

Never bring wood from another state — it could spread invasive species.

Campgrounds at Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and at the 42 Colorado state parks are full for the July Fourth weekend, and have been for months, with a few exceptions.

According to U.S. Forest Service Public Information Officer Reghan Cloudman, all of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests' reservable sites are filled, and while some of the first-come-first-serve sites have availability, she expects those to be filling up Thursday. One option is Jacks Gulch campground on Pingree Park Road, which has about 60 available campsites. Cloudman said because it's not right off of Colo. 14 or by Red Feather Lakes, it might have a little more availability than the other sites.

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The other option for campers is dispersed camping off of Pingree Park Road as well as off Crown Point Road and along Laramie River Road.

"You can park on the side of the road ... All you have to do is make sure your car stays within 300 feet of the road," Grant Pardington, a summer intern at the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests' information services, said.

Pardington said because there are no fire bans in effect right now in Colorado, campers can build fires as long as they are 200 feet from any road, trail or body of water.

For more specific information on the campsites at Arapaho and Roosevelt Forests, go to fs.usda.gov/arp.

At Rocky Mountain National Park, campers have two options, backcountry camping and frontcountry camping. Frontcountry camping is camping in areas that are more easily accessible by car.

Crystal Brindle, visitor use assistant at the backcountry office, said space is tight on the east side of the park because the Dunraven Trailhead is closed due to flooding, so campsites filled up fast.

"We are very, very busy this summer, more than other summers," Brindle said.

Kyle Patterson, Rocky Mountain National Park public information officer, said three of the five frontcountry campgrounds are by reservation, and those are filled for the weekend. The other two first-come-first-serve are at Longs Peak — tent only — and Timber Creek. But Patterson said she thinks Longs Peak will be full by the end of Wednesday with only three sites left and Timber Creek could be filled shortly after.

When the holiday falls on a weekend or close to the weekend and when the weather is expected to be nice, Patterson said the spots fill up fast.

"We always encourage folks to start booking in February ... We know that particularly since the Fourth falls on a Friday, a lot of folks usually com up the day before so that they can get a campsite," she said. "Usually they're booked by March or April."

For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park camping, go to nps.giv.

The same is the case for the 42 state parks, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Information Office Jennifer Churchill.

For more information on particular state parks, campers can visit cpw.state.co.us.